Imagine if excellence were the only criterion for a place in Ramaphosa’s cabinet
Ifelt a bit sorry for Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday. He had to present the worst national budget in recent memory — and one that he did not even know was his to deliver until a few days before. Gigaba strutted in to the National Treasury last year without a clue about what awaited him.
Listening to him explain at a pre-budget media briefing why he thought an increase in the VAT rate would not impact much on the poor, it was apparent how overwhelmed Gigaba still was. His deputy, Sfiso Buthelezi, was even worse. His attempt to justify the force-feeding of former president Jacob Zuma’s fee-free higher education plan to South Africans was excruciating, mostly because he has no appreciation of the bigger impact of the announcement, let alone the budgeting process.
Apart from Gigaba and Buthelezi being compromised by corruption allegations, they are ill-suited to the finance ministry because their understanding of their portfolio is so superficial.
They seem to think the compilation of the budget means you take money from here and put it there, and then ask poverty-stricken people for a top-up to realise your political ideals.
This is precisely why President Cyril Ramaphosa should not be rolling the dice with the appointment of his new cabinet. The wrong people in key positions could easily sabotage his agenda and the goodwill surrounding his presidency.
Judging by the proposed lists of ministers and deputy ministers doing the rounds, and the fierce lobbying going on, there are a number of factors in the mix other than who the best candidates are.
The position of deputy president is a prime example.
Ramaphosa was set to appoint a woman as his deputy, which until a few days ago seemed certain to be Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. But her abrasiveness during the debate on the state of the nation address showed that she was out of step with Ramaphosa’s nation-building approach and would be on an unnecessary collision course with the opposition as leader of government business.
Ramaphosa’s first choice for his running mate during the ANC election campaign, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor, is still in contention.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s backers believe that Ramaphosa should appoint her, for the sake of ANC unity, even though she has told a number of people that she does not want to serve in his cabinet and wants to quit parliament.
Appointing a woman deputy president would be a big psychological boost for the gender cause, but it is debateable whether that should be the primary criterion for this position.
The empowerment of women should be inherent in all government programmes, and there is no guarantee that a woman deputy president will use her position to challenge the patriarchy and tackle abuse and exploitation. There is a Ministry for Women located in the Presidency — and no evidence that Susan Shabangu is using her proximity to power effectively.
Mpumalanga premier and deputy ANC president David Mabuza has joined the queue for the national deputy president position. Until recently, Mabuza was keen to see out his term in his province and take on a national position only after the elections next year.
But he seems to have had a rethink, and there is now lobbying that he be appointed immediately to further his “unity” cause.
Who exactly would Ramaphosa be placating by appointing either Mabuza or Dlamini-Zuma? Neither shares his vision, nor do they have the potential to assist him with his priority tasks to revitalise the economy, tackle the corruption network, get the state working optimally and foster social cohesion.
Ramaphosa needs someone at his side who understands the political moment and can work to advance his agenda. The position of deputy president should not be a place for people to park off until they can contest the presidency.
Similarly, people should not be in cabinet because they feel entitled to be there.
Why does Ramaphosa need to tick boxes on gender, ethnicity or ANC factional affiliations, or provide employment for people who are at a loose end?
For now, Ramaphosa is restricted by the fact that the bulk of his cabinet has to be made up of members of parliament — and the ANC caucus is not exactly brimming with new talent.
But there is nothing to suggest that only ANC MPs should be in the executive.
One of the ANC’s biggest afflictions is the inability to come up with fresh ideas to tackle the country’s problems. As the EFF’s Floyd Shivambu demonstrated during the state of the nation debate, it is possible and necessary to reach across the aisle to share ideas to advance the national interest. There are several spirited people in other parties who could provide dynamism to Ramaphosa’s administration, if he wants to follow Madiba’s example and draw members of the opposition into the executive.
This is, of course, a politically charged period because of an election approaching. But South Africa’s rebuilding mission needs a collective effort and innovation rather than dunderheads playing with our lives.